My grandma had this special drawer in her house where she kept what she called 'odds and ends'. Sometimes, we would find the most unique things in her odds and ends drawer. I think it was her catch all for busy days. When she wasn't sure what to do with something...it found it's way into the odds and ends drawer. I swear she probably had 8,000 band-aids, an old packet of vintage kool aid, $1,000 in pennies, thread, shoe polish, pens, tape, cut out recipes, unidentified family photos, and probably the cure for the common cold stashed in her odds and ends drawer!

As we close our December issue, this is our odds and ends page. Things that we think are creative and worthwhile, but they didn't make it into an article, so they're here...on the odds and ends page. Clearly unique to our online magazine, but we like to be different. We think they're things that might brighten your day, and give you one final creative idea before your leave this issue of 'For your Heart and Home'.

We hope you have loved your time spent with us, and felt inspired within your heart to create memories in your home. Please feel free to send us your comments, thoughts, and suggestions by clicking here. If you have an article your would like to submit for review for publication in 'For your Heart and Home, click here. Thank you for taking time to join us on these pages. 

Blessings and have a Merry Christmas as you shine your light into the world. 

Shelly Thompson
Editor and Publisher, For your Heart and Home

For your Heart and Home 
A publication of The Notebook Cafe and Millie's Vintage and Home Decor
201 Antique City Drive
Walnut, Iowa
515-745-0476

Email [email protected]

Homemade gifts are the BEST! 

Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe  
Ingredients
1/2 cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine Dry Ingredients
In a medium saucepan, whisk together cocoa powder, sugar, and salt until well combined. Gradually stir in the water, ensuring no lumps remain. Mix until smooth.

Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens slightly. Stir frequently to prevent scorching. Add Vanilla: Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Let the sauce cool to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container or jar and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

Suggestions for use-
Drizzle over ice cream, pancakes, or waffles. Stir into milk for a quick hot chocolate. Use as a dip for fruits like strawberries or bananas.  Calorie Count Approximately 50 calories per tablespoon

Christmas Morning Punch! 

No space? Easy peasy Christmas Tree! 

No space for a Christmas Tree? This easy to create tree will have your place feeling festive in no time! Also, this is a great way to place a tree in an entryway, hallway, or a very narrow space. Using 2 x 2's make your frame and then decorate! 

Winter and Holiday Chalk Boards are easy to create

When you see an old window...think chalkboard. By applying chalkboard paint to either glass or wood in a window frame, it makes a great chalkboard. Perfect for a child's room, reminder board, or home decor! Trees are one of the easiest things to make on a chalkboard and they look great. You can add a few lights for even more of an effect.  Inexpensive and easy peasy! 

Trending Colors

Thinking about doing some updates or refreshes in January? Here's what paint colors are trending. However, personal taste should always win! 

Is it a birdcage or a wreath holder? 

This vintage bird cage, well it's sad and blue because it has no cage, so I guess technically, it's not a bird cage, but it IS an awesome wreath hanger! As a wreath hanger this can go from season to season and it will look adorable! If you don't like the gold...spray paint it the color of your choice. You can even use patina spray to give it a more aged look if that's what you're going for. 

For the Christmas season the JOY cards are hanging on it, but you could add a little sign, or even a boho tie of different pieces of cloth tied to the bottom, creating a boho look! 

The best part...bird cages...without cages...are usually free on a curb, or super reasonable at garage sales! ​

A MUST SEE this season

This was one of my mom's favorite movies. I have wonderful memories of climbing beside her in bed when she was sick towards the end of her life and watching this with her. It still makes my heart so happy to watch it (several times) each Christmas season. This is the review by Ms. M's Bookshelf - This is a tender story of a lady doctor who is still mourning the loss of her husband despite attempts by friends to get her out and about again, and a man whose wife has Alzheimer’s Disease and doesn’t recognize him, their daughters, or her grandson. It’s Thanksgiving, and there’s a snowstorm.  Their paths cross and, of course, they don’t hit it off at all.  She offers him a lift.  He’s arrogant, and she’s rather superior, but they end up off the road and have to spend the night in a cabin to wait for the road crews to dig them out.  After a while, they come to a tentative liking for each other and agree to meet for breakfast the next Sunday morning. Well, of course, things go wrong.  There’s a misunderstanding, some pointed remarks that aren’t understood, and, well — you should watch this movie sometime over the holidays.  In the midst of a snowstorm, if you can manage it; it will add to the atmosphere.  It’s slow-paced, romantic, and a happy ending all around.  What’s not to like? 

Recipe Archives. Coca Cola Cake...Yum!!!

Christmas Gift idea

​'Heart of a Warrior' is now in it's 6th printing and has received wonderful reviews. The pages of this book written by Shelly Thompson, Publisher of The Notebook Cafe, are real life devotions God wrote on her heart as a young girl growing up on 5th Street in an old neighborhood known as Highland Park...a miniature Mayberry...surrounded by her parents, grandparents, and a tribe of faithful widowed women (different shapes and sizes of Aunt Bee).

Readers are enchanted with this wonderful neighborhood as they journey up the hill to ‘God’s rock’, remember breathing in the smell of amazing stacks of books during Story Hour in the old library, discover the afternoon the neighbor 'Grace' received real Jesus grace, relive summer afternoons on the back porch with sweet tea and stories y'all, finding ‘buried treasure’ in the back alley that God used to demonstrate His restoration, walk through painful steps of saying a temporary farewell to the faith Warriors in this life as they pass the torch of faith to the next generation to carry forward...creating the ‘Heart of a Warrior’...for a time such as this.

This book is a forty-day legacy devotional with encouraging warrior journal notes, battle strategies, and real life devotions...for all seasons in life.

Your heart will be touched, changed, revived, restored...and prepared to leave a legacy of faith for the next generation.

Return with author Shelly Thompson for forty days to where her journey began...the old house on 5th Street at the bottom of the hill. A special place where God touched a little girl’s heart for a lifetime.

'Heart of a Warrior' is available at both Millie's locations in Johnston and Walnut, and online with free shipping. Click here for more information.